Re: [Marxism] On Kung Fu Hustle

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

> transnationals, mostly - if not exclusively - u.s., are changing face of
> hk cinematic political economy, new relations (deepening relations is,
> perhaps, more accurate) portend transformation from 'national' cinema -
> to extent that hk had a national cinema - to 'post-national' one, a
> 'global/world' cinema under hollywood hegemony (btw 2: koreans are
> selling film rights to hollywood at rapid pace)...  michael hoover

New Yorkers will have an opportunity to see the latest Asian films in an 
upcoming festival.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2005

Subway Cinema, the ImaginAsian, and ImaginAsianTv

PRESENT

New York Asian Film Festival 2005

At Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, at 2nd Street) in Manhattan
-- June 17 ­ June 26, 2005 --

-and-

At The ImaginAsian (239 E. 59th Street, at 2nd Avenue) in Manhattan
-- June 24 ­ June 30, 2005 ­

NEW YORK, NY, May 12 ­ Subway Cinema returns like the Jedi to present its
fourth annual festival devoted to new feature films from Asia. This year
we¹ve watched 180 movies, hand-picked the best 25, filtered them through our
unique cold water filtration system from our artesian wells, and let them
dry in the warm, New England sun so that when we serve them to you, you will
taste their freshness and flavor, as if you had picked these films yourself!

These are the most dynamic, highest-grossing, and award-winning movies from
China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand and Korea and, except for
two of them, they¹ve never played New York before. After last year¹s
sold-out festival, we¹ve had to spread the festival over two venues: the
beautiful Anthology Film Archives in the East Village and the new Asian
American theater The ImaginAsian on the Upper East Side. There¹s too much
festival for just one theater! We¹re awaiting confirmation on a few titles,
but we¹ve got 23 on tap right now (which have won a cumulative 28 awards)
and you¹ll need to keep your eyes on www.nyaff.org and
www.theimaginasian.com for updated information. Advanced tickets go on sale
May 24th.

The Japanese pop meltdown, "Kamikaze Girls", kicks things off, and then
we¹ve got Kim Ki-Duk¹s "Samaritan Girl", winner of Best Director at Berlin
and unreleased in the US. We¹ll be screening the multi-award winning
ecological survival film from China, "Kekexili", the horror omnibus film,
"Three?Extremes", featuring shorts from Takeshi Miike (Ichi the Killer),
Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy), and Fruit Chan (Durian, Durian) and starring Bai
Ling. We¹ll also be holding the North American premiere of "Princess
Raccoon", the Zhang Ziyi musical directed by Japan¹s legendary madman,
Seijun Suzuki, and currently playing at Cannes. There¹s the Filipino version
of Spider-Man, "Gagamboy"; the Korean horror hit, "R-Point", set in the
middle of the Vietnam War. Shunji Iwai¹s "Hana & Alice" is the latest flick
from the director of "All About Lily Chou Chou". "P", from Thailand, is a
horror movie about a bargirl in Bangkok using black magic, but it¹s also an
unblinking look at the seamier side of Bangkok¹s nightlife, and the director
is still lobbying to get the film released in Thailand. "University of
Laughs", a two-man movie starring Koji Yakusho (Doppelganger, Shall We
Dance?) is the funniest send-up of post 9/11 politics you¹ll ever see, set
in 1940¹s Japan. Takeshi Shimizu, the director of "Ju-on" and "The Grudge"
is here with his latest film, the digital video excursion into hell,
"Marebito", which stars Japan¹s one-man new wave, Shinya Tsukamoto.
Tsukamoto also directed (and wrote, and edited, and designed, and acted in)
two other films in the festival: his sexual blackmail liberation anthem, "A
Snake of June", and his anatomical love story, "Vital", which stars cult
fave Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer). Asano is also starring in the
anti-movie movie, "Survive Style 5+" and in the amazingly strange "A Taste
of Tea", one of the only movies you¹ll ever see where a subway lives inside
someone¹s head and an eight-year-old girl is haunted by a giant version of
herself.

About Subway Cinema
Subway Cinema is a film programming collective, based in New York City, that
is committed to increasing exposure and appreciation for popular Asian
cinema, which has been traditionally overlooked by mainstream American
critics and distributors. This is our fourth New York Asian Film Festival,
and while we don¹t have millions of dollars from corporate sponsors, we do
have the best Asian movies in the world, for 13 days only.

About ImaginAsian TV and The ImaginAsian
ImaginAsian TV (iaTV) is America's first national 24-hour Asian American
network, serving the diverse cultures and entertainment demands of more than
12 million Asian Americans.  iaTV (www.iaTV.tv) offers top-notch
entertainment, news, music videos, movies, and original programming from the
U.S. and Asia.  All foreign-language programs are subtitled in English to
meet the needs of the general public, and English-speaking hosts will
introduce shows during prime time.  iaTV also provides unprecedented access
for advertisers seeking to reach the fastest growing, most upscale ethnic
segment in the United States.

The ImaginAsian (www.theimaginasian.com) is New York City¹s premier Asian
American theater, dedicated to showcasing the exciting world of Asian and
Asian American cinema and culture.  From international box-office smash hits
to critically acclaimed independent films, the theater hosts the best
Asian-themed titles hailing from all over Asia and the U.S., with English
subtitles provided for all foreign-language films.  Moreover, The
ImaginAsian¹s state-of-the-art facilities and Asian café provide a unique
home to an exciting series of film festivals and cultural performances.

Stills and screeners are available ­ direct all media inquiries to:

Contact:
Don Ciaramella / Matt Biscuiti          Sabina Lee
The Lippin Group/NY                     The ImaginAsian
212-986-7080                            ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc.
don@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                     212-869-4288 x 2022
matt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                    slee@xxxxxxx

Grady Hendrix
Subway Cinema
917-405-7477
grady@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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